AUTHORITIES arrested yesterday a Chinese citizen and 25 Filipinos for oil smuggling in San Juan, Batangas, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said.
A CIDG report named the arrested Chinese as Hong Zhu Chao, 47, whose Filipino name is Donato Ang, a resident of San Juan City.
The suspects were nabbed in a law enforcement operation at 12:20 a.m. at Subukin Port in Barangay Subukin, San Juan.
“The police operation stemmed from the request of the Bureau of Customs on the alleged smuggling of illicit cigarettes and other highly dutiable goods without payment of lawful duties and taxes,” the CIDG said.
“During the operation, it was discovered that petroleum products were being illegally traded at the port,” the CIDG added.
The CIDG said the operation was conducted with personnel from the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Coast Guard and the San Juan municipal police station.
Seized during the operation was fishing vessel M/T Feliza, which had been converted into a tanker. The vessel was loaded with 200,000 liters of oil worth P12.2 million.
Eleven trucks were also seized during the operation.
“The arrested persons were brought to CIDG Batangas PFU (Provincial Field Unit) for documentation and proper disposition while the confiscated pieces of evidence were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for temporary custody,” the CIDG added.
